WORCS Round 10 Race Report

October 1, 2007, 6:49am

2007 Rocky Mountain ATV/MC World Off Road Championship Series, Round 10

September 30, 2007; Hollister Hills Park; Hollister, CA
Kurt Caselli (Red Bull/KTM) took over the lead on the second lap of Round 10 of the WORCS series and outpaced all comers for more then two hours to take his second win of the season and establish a 25 point lead in the title chase over rival Nathan Woods (Monster Energy Kawasaki).

When the gate dropped the holeshot went to Richie Owens (Honda) whose best previous finish was a 9th in Round 4. Owens was followed by Justin Soule (Red Bull/KTM), Scott Simon (Monster Energy Kawasaki), Woods, Bobby Bonds (Yam), Ricky Dietrich (Monster Energy Kawasaki), and Caselli. When the bumping and rubbing was done and the pack left the MX track to go into the woods, Owens still held the lead, but Soule was already down and Caselli had moved by Bonds, Dietrich, Simon and Woods.

The riders disappeared into the dusty 4 ½ mile off road course where more carnage ensued. “We all knew the start would be everything in this race,” said Caselli later. “The off road section is dry and blinding-dusty and impossible to water. I knew I had to get into the top three before we left the motocross track or I’d never make the podium.” Back in the woods, Dietrich crashed and later dropped out of the race, Destry Abbott (Monster Energy Kawasaki) also clipped a tree in the heavy dust and chipped his elbow. He would go on to finish 15th with the swollen appendage.

It took two laps for Caselli to establish himself in the lead ahead of Woods and Simon. Owens suffered mechanical troubles and had to pull in the pits to get his wheel replaced. He returned to the race in 27th and charged to 16th. Caselli set the pace and even the always powerful Woods could not keep up with him. At the end of two hours Caselli took the victory more then two minutes ahead of Woods and Simon. Robby Bell (Honda) finished forth and Bonds rounded out the top five.

“I rode a comfortable pace,” said Caselli. “But in the dust I really couldn’t tell how Woods was doing. I really respect him and he’s the guy I’ve got beat for this championship. I’ve got to be in front of him or at least right behind him for two more races before this title is decided.”

Caselli leads the points chase with 201 with Woods 25 points back with 176, Bell moved into the third slot in points with 165.